2014 Amapola Creek Estate Sonoma County Cuvee Alis

2014 Amapola Creek Estate Sonoma County Cuvee Alis

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtProprietary RedSonomaUncategorizedUSA

AMAPOLA CREEK 2014 Amapola Creek Estate Sonoma County Cuvee Alis

2014 CUVEE ALIS
ESTATE, SONOMA COUNTY

 
If a deeply compelling, complex red from a site that neighbors the iconic Monte Rosso Vineyard in Sonoma County doesn’t pique your interest, how about getting the same wine at a special price?  Add to that a 92 Point Score from Robert Parker and it being produced by legendary winemaker Dick Arrowood, and your taste buds might already be salivating to try it… Beautifully elegant and remarkably individualistic, this wine simply pops on your palate with an explosion of flavors that linger on and on.  The grapes were sourced from the Amapola Creek Estate Vineyard which I mentioned above borders the iconic Monte Rosso Vineyard, made famous by Ridge in the 1960’s…  It was expertly authored by renowned winemaker Dick Arrowood who rocketed to fame crafting some of Sonoma’s most notable wines, including Chateau St. Jean from 1974 through 1990.
 
Created from a collection of various vineyard blocks, diversity is what truly sets this wine apart. After resting for 18 months in French oak barrels, this wine is made in an approachable style that will immediately bring a smile to your face… At the winery price of $48/btl, this wine will take you to that happy place, but with our special offer you may want to clear some serious room in the cellar.  This is the perfect Red Blend to share at Spring and Summer barbecues. 
 
AMAPOLA CREEK
2014 CUVEE ALIS
ESTATE, SONOMA COUNTY
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “Blended of 69% Grenache, 9% Syrah and 22% Mourvedre, the 2014 Cuvee Alis Estate Vineyard has a medium garnet color and a beautifully spicy nose of Chinese five spice and Sichuan pepper with a good core of cherry preserves, blueberries and dried plums, plus a waft of Provence herbs. Full-bodied, the palate is led by spice box and savory notes with velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with great persistence.” 92 Points
2013 Peterson Bradford Mountain Estate Zinfandel

2013 Peterson Bradford Mountain Estate Zinfandel

with No Comment $30 and underDry Creek ValleySonomaUncategorizedUSAWhitesZinfandel

PETERSON 2013 Peterson Bradford Mountain Estate Zinfandel

2013 ESTATE ZINFANDEL
BRADFORD MOUNTAIN

 
Many of the best wines go well beyond flavors and aromas, and some can even evoke feelings of nostalgia, like when I tasted Fred Peterson’s wines.  They are a perfect example of a classic style that many would call traditional and non-interventional.  Fred calls it their zero manipulation style of winemaking, which just as it sounds, is the philosophy of doing as little as possible to the wine in the cellar, resulting in the in the best expression of the vineyard.  It’s rare to come across a New World winery with a steadfast approach to this winemaking approach, and to celebrate it, we thought we would offer the wine at a “historic” price to boot…
 
Zero manipulation winemaking always begins in the vineyard, and that’s why we picked the 2013 Bradford Mountain Estate Zinfandel.  Perched at 1,000 feet in elevation, overlooking Dry Creek Valley, the well-drained, red-clay soils produce exceptional fruit.  The 2013 has a sturdy frame and concentrated center core of fruit that opens up to classic mulberry, white pepper and hints of saddle leather and wild rose.  At this price, you simply can’t afford to miss this…
 
PETERSON
2013 ESTATE ZINFANDEL
BRADFORD MOUNTAIN
Retails at:  $38/btl
 

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Winery Notes: “A rich blend of ripe dark berries with traces of toasty oak provides an inviting entry. The luscious mouthfeel releases layers of concentrated fruit-plum, deep blackberry and dark cherry-punctuated by hints of spice and pepper. The Bradford Mountain terroir influences are evident in the threads of minerality that weave through this opulent wine, adding to its depth and complexity.”
 
Customers who enjoy Peterson Estate Zinfandel may also enjoy these two outstanding Zins…
2016 Mauritson Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2014 Valdez Sonoma County Zinfadel
MAURITSON
2016 ZINFANDEL
DRY CREEK VALLEY
Retails at:  $39.00/btl
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl

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Winery Notes: “Perfumed aromas of black boysenberry cobbler with graham cracker crust waft from the glass. Hints of anise, fresh fig, and earthiness beautifully complement the fruit profile. The entry is full but inviting, exhibiting flavors of mocha, wet gravel, and black cherry. The mouthfeel is seamless from start to finish, indicative of perfectly integrated tannin and acid. Please enjoy this wine for the next 7-10 years.”
VALDEZ
2014 ZINFANDEL
SONOMA COUNTY
Retails at:  $30/btl
 

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Winery Notes: “Aromas and flavors of juicy blackberries and currants are expressed in the 2014ValdezZinfandel. This wine has fresh acidity and light tannins that are in harmonious balance while hints of licorice and spice linger on the finish. Fruit for this wine is sourced from 3 different Sonoma County AVAs: Dry creek, Russian River Valley, and Alexander Valley.“

2016 Martinelli Bella Vigna Chardonnay

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

MARTINELLI

2016 CHARDONNAY
BELLA VIGNA

 
The latest releases from Martinelli are so stunning, that Julianna Martinelli came to our tasting room to personally show us how incredible they are, and they quite honestly might be the best they ever produced.  A perfect example is the 2016 Bella Vigna Chardonnay. It is so powerfully rich and yet delicately balanced that words alone can’t describe it. The core of the 2016 comes from the iconic Zio Tony Ranch Vineyard and was brightened with fruit from Martinelli Road.  On the palate, the wine has regal opulence matched with majestic balance, and displays focused flavors spanning from lemon meringue pie and lemon blossoms to honeyed pineapple.  At this price, the level of quality/value may just crush everything you thought possible at this price and by the time it’s hits your palate, you’ll wish you had ordered more…
 
The 2016 was brought to life by winemakers Courtney Wagoner and Erin Green. Erin worked alongside Helen Turley in the early ’90’s on some of her projects, including at Bryant Family & Martinelli and also was director of winemaking at Pahlmeyer.  There’s simply never enough of their Chardonnay to meet demand, and based on the quality of the 2016, really high scores aren’t far behind.
 
MARTINELLI
2016 CHARDONNAY
BELLA VIGNA
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
 
Winery Notes: “Our 2016 Bella Vigna Chardonnay has notes of lemon, hazelnut, and golden apple on the nose. A bright lemon zest entry gives way to a rich middle and citrus finish.”
 
Customers who enjoy Martinelli Bella Vigna Chardonnay may also enjoy these two terrific Chardonnays…
2014 Charles Heintz Searby Vineyard Chardonnay 2014 Black Cordon Laguna Road Vineyard Chardonnay
CHARLES HEINTZ
2014 CHARDONNAY
SEARBY VINEYARD
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
Your price: $39.99/btl 
 
Brought to life from the Searby Vineyard which you might recognize from Kosta Browne, Nickel & Nickel and Duckhorn Migration who have all made Chardonnays from this remarkable hillside vineyard.  This Chardonnay screams cool-climate, impeccably well-made Russian River Valley Chardonnay with penetrating flavors of lemon meringue, Bosc pear, tropical fruits and butterscotch.
BLACK CORDON
2014 CHARDONNAY
LAGUNA ROAD VINEYARD
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “Rich, decadent and inviting, the 2014  Black Cordon Laguna Road Chardonnay is bursting with Meyer Lemond, almond shavings, tangerine and honeyed apple.  Wildflowers, nutmeg and orange rind add to it’s deep complexity.  On the palate the wine is sensual and balanced with terrific weight and structure”  93 Cases Produced 
2016 Sonnet Tondre's Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

2016 Sonnet Tondre’s Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPinot NoirSanta Lucia HighlandsSonomaUSA

SONNET 2016 Sonnet Tondre's Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

2016 PINOT NOIR
TONDRE’S GRAPEFIELD
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS

 
Looking back at the most loved Pinot Noirs I’ve featured over the years, there’s one from the Santa Lucia Highlands that rises above the rest.  Sonnet’s Tondre’s Grapefield Pinot Noir comes from an incredible site that neighbors the iconic Garys’ Vineyard.  And it’s appropriately named, with a perfume so muse-worthy that it makes it easy to wax poetic about.  One twirl of the glass unleashes a burst of red cherries woven throughout with wild rose petals, fresh violets and spices.  On the palate the wine is plush and satiny with perfect balance, and after tasting the 2016, you’ll want to get yours before the reviews… Trust me on this one.  
 
Santa Lucia Highlands is well-known for producing Pinot Noirs with great depth, often showing cherry-berry pie and exotic spices.  The topography and proximity to the Pacific Ocean allows for a long hang time, and in many areas, the fruit is able to reach optimum maturity, resulting in profound flavors.  This could be the poster-child for classic Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot and at $40/btl it’s absolutely one of the best in the shop.   I highly recommend picking up a case, while supplies last… you can (and will) thank me later. 
 
SONNET
2016 PINOT NOIR
TONDRE’S GRAPEFIELD
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
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Winery Notes: “The 2016 vintage pinot noir shows an array of cherry fruit, red berries, nutmeg, and that recognizable Santa Lucia Highlands AVA spiciness, that resembles dried herbs, potpourri and briar patch. The palate is soft and plush with balanced acidity and moderate tannin.”
 
Customers that enjoy Sonnet Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots…
2013 Fort Ross FRV Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2015 Matias Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
FORT ROSS
2013 PINOT NOIR
FRV, SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $52.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
 
From Jeb Dunnuck: “The  2013 Pinot Noir FRV Fort Ross  Vineyard sports a ruby color as well as an open knit, ready-to-go bouquet of dried cherries, tobacco, menthol, and dried herbs. It’s pretty, medium-bodied, rounded, and supple, with an evolved style ideal for drinking over the coming 4-5 years.” 90 Points
MATIAS 
2015 PINOT NOIR
ROSELLA’S VINEYARD
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
 
From Wine Enthusiast: “Rose petals, cranberry and dust show on the nose of this bottling, which grows more intense on the nose as it sits open, offering riper fruit. Dried sagebrush and baked earth flavors show on the sip as the red fruit and floral components arise with grace.”  93 Points

2017 Flowers Sonoma Coast Rosé of Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtRoséSonomaSonoma CoastUncategorizedUSA

FLOWERS

ROSÉ OF PINOT NOIR
2017 SONOMA COAST
 
Blooming with freshly picked strawberry, intense raspberry, wild lavender and rose petals, the 2017 Flowers Sonoma Coast Rosé of Pinot Noir cultivates feelings of energy and jubilation with a single sip. The 2017 was harvested from a selection of family-owned sites within the extreme Sonoma Coast, and including fruit from the winery’s Estate vineyard located in the Fort Ross Seaview AVA, which in 2011 was approved as its own Appellation within the Sonoma Coast.  The area is also a source for such notables as Peter Michael, Marcassin, Martinelli, Fort Ross and Pahlmeyer to list a few, and with a 95 Point score from California Wine Review, I strongly recommend planting some of this in your glass.
 
With attention to every detail, Flowers hand-sorts their fruit on their custom-built shaker table before gently dispersing the berries onto the next sorting table where six sorters assess every cluster before allowing only the best fruit to pass through by gravity flow into the fermenters.  The 2017 is fresh and vibrant and grows even more complex with aeration and at $29.99/btl it simply should not be missed.
 
FLOWERS
ROSÉ OF PINOT NOIR
2017 SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $32.00/btl
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl

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From California Wine Review: “Layered aromatics of strawberry, raspberry, starfruit and rose petal highlight the complex palate, driven by orange marmalade countered with fresh citrus peels, and balanced by the signature coastal mineralogy and defined salinity.”  95 Points, CA Wine Review
 
Customers who enjoy Flowers Rosé, may also enjoy these two outstanding Rosés… 
2017 Chateau Des Garcinieres Provence Rose
 2017 Azur Rose of Syrah
CHÂTEAU DES GARCINIÈRES
2017 PROVENCE ROSÉ
CÔTES DE PROVENCE
 
Your Price: $23/btl

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Importers Tasting Notes: “… Blessed by the same sun and sea breezes as Tahiti Beach, Cap 21, and the memory of Voile Rouge, it embodies the delicate, romantic taste of 45% Grenache, 45% Cinsault and 10% Rolle, marrying the refreshing flavors of strawberry and cherry, mixed with mineral nuances into one glass…”
AZUR
2017 ROSÉ
 
Your Price $31.99/btl

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A remarkably compelling, Provençal inspired Rosé, brought to life by the ever talented Julien Fayard, who learned his craft at Chateau Lafite Rothschild as well as gained valuable, first-hand experience as Director of Winemaking for Philippe Melka…  Offers elegant layers of raspberry, strawberry and watermelon…
2014 Enos Estate Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvingon

2014 Enos Estate Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonDry Creek ValleyKevin VogtSonomaUncategorizedUSA

ENOS 2014 Enos Estate Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvingon

2014 ESTATE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DRY CREEK VALLEY

We know that we’ve done our job when we introduce a wine that performs so far beyond its modest price level, that it immediately generates an avalanche of re-order requests that begin nearly simultaneous with the delivery notices. That’s exactly what happened when we offered Enos’s Knight’s Valley Cabernet in January, and the demand was so vast that there wasn’t nearly enough wine to satisfy it.  Fortunately the winery’s Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is even better, and comes from a 5 acre hillside vineyard in Sonoma County that’s perfectly suited for Bordeaux varietals.  At $60 this is a memorable Cabernet that delights even the most particular wine aficionado… It’s unfathomably great and competes with many of the best wines in the shop for greatest ever value wine.
 
Commanding a presence from one of the valley’s best vintages, one that the Wine Spectator describes as producing “dense, charming, cellar-worthy wines,” the 2014 vintage brought a fuller, richer and more structured wine.  When you taste it for the first time you’ll be shocked by the level of quality, which is amplified in all the right places… A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that’s densely compact and opens up to a melody of pulverized berries laced with crushed granite, dried spices and mixed chocolates.  I recommend doubling up on the 2014 Estate… You’ll be glad you did…
 
ENOS
2014 ESTATE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DRY CREEK VALLEY
Retails at:  $60/btl
 
Your Price: Insider’s Club Member’s Only

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Tasting Notes: “This intriguing Cabernet begins with a compelling nose of black cherries, red currants and cocoa powder, followed by pipe tobacco, toasted hazelnuts and sweet vanilla spice.  On the palate, focused blackberry and chocolate covered cherries intertwine beautifully with a complex, earthy wet clay character along with slightly dusty tannins.  The finish is detailed, long and fresh, without be heavy or cloying. A delight to enjoy now and will age beautifully for a decade or so. Serious wine at a not-so-serious price…” 93+ Points
2014 Charles Heintz Searby Vineyard Chardonnay

2014 Charles Heintz Searby Vineyard Chardonnay

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

CHARLES HEINTZ 2014 Charles Heintz Searby Vineyard Chardonnay

2014 CHARDONNAY
SEARBY VINEYARD

 
In a conversation about Russian River Valley’s most renowned vineyards, the name Charles Henitz never goes without mention.  Many recognize Heintz Vineyard from luminaries like Williams Selyem, DuMOL and Pierson Meyer that have all purchased their revered grapes.  Charles Heintz also produces a small amount of wine under their own label and under the guidance of Hugh Chappelle, former winemaker at Flowers and Lynmar to name a few… Their 2014 Chardonnay sourced from the Searby Vineyard bears striking balance, precision, detail, and exceptionally delicious complexity.  This wine makes absolutely no excuses at it’s $48 retail price… At $39.99, it’s one of the greatest Chardonnays that I’ve tasted in a long time.
 
Brought to life from the Searby Vineyard which you might recognize from Kosta Browne, Nickel & Nickel and Duckhorn Migration who have all made Chardonnays from this remarkable hillside vineyard.  This Chardonnay screams cool-climate, impeccably well-made Russian River Valley Chardonnay with penetrating flavors of lemon meringue, Bosc pear, tropical fruits and butterscotch. It’s perfectly balanced and leaves your taste buds yearning for another sip.
 
CHARLES HEINTZ
2014 CHARDONNAY
SEARBY VINEYARD
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

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Winery notes: “Intense stone fruit and tropical fruit aroma are prominent; followed by subtle ripe apple, orange blossom, white flower stoniness.  The aromatics continue on the palate with complex notes of pastry and candied citrus.  Acidity is brisk and racy, with a refreshing juiciness.  A good match with boldly flavored international cuisines, this wine will show best from late 2018 through 2023.“
 
Customers who enjoy Charles Heintz Searby Vineyard Chardonnay may also enjoy these two outstanding wines…
2014 Black Cordon Laguna Road Vineyard Chardonnay 2015 Charles Heintz Swan Selection Pinot Noir
BLACK CORDON
2014 CHARDONNAY
LAGUNA ROAD VINEYARD
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

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(use code bc40)
 
Tasting Notes: “Rich, decadent and inviting, the 2014  Black Cordon Laguna Road Chardonnay is bursting with Meyer Lemond, almond shavings, tangerine and honeyed apple.  Wildflowers, nutmeg and orange rind add to it’s deep complexity.  On the palate the wine is sensual and balanced with terrific weight and structure”  93 Cases Produced 
CHARLES HEINTZ
2015 PINOT NOIR
SWAN SELECTION
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

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Winery Notes: “Shows deep, dark and inviting appearance and the concentration of the vintage.  Abundant fresh red fruit aromatics including bing cherry, blackberry, black raspberry and ripe Santa Rosa plum.  Subtle notes of Asian spice, cardamom, coriander and subtle clove show underneath the fruit-driven nose.  The texture is expansive and young with youthful tannins.  Consistently our longest-lived Pinot Noir, we expect the 2015 vintage to age beautifully through 2023-2025 with ideal storage conditions.”
2016 Mauritson Dry Creek Vineyard Zinfandel

2016 Mauritson Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

with No Comment $30 and underDry Creek ValleyKevin VogtSonomaUncategorizedUSAZinfandel

MAURITSON 2016 Mauritson Dry Creek Vineyard Zinfandel

2016 ZINFANDEL
DRY CREEK VALLEY

 
When asked why I love Zinfandel so much, the answer is simple…  Although the grape allegedly originated in Croatia, Zinfandel thrives in California and nobody produces better Zin than California, period.  One of the best illustrations of classic California Zinfandel is Mauritson’s Dry Creek Valley.  With perfectly balanced, expressive, inviting fruit, the 2016 escapes from the glass with floral infused raspberry, black cherry, baking spices and incense.  With substantial vineyard holdings in Sonoma’s iconic Rockpile AVA, the Mauritson’s were influential in helping Rockpile become an AVA in 2002.  The family has been farming for more than 140 years, and at around forty bucks, their Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel completes with the best of the best… At $29.99/btl, it’s a steal…
 
A blend of Block 5, Rockpile Ridge, Madrone Spring and Cemetery vineyards, the 2016 perfectly expresses Dry Creek Valley terroir, emphasized by the gravelly nuance, firm tannins and a rich mouthfeel.  Peeling back layers of boysenberry, black raspberry and plum reveals wild flowers, truffle, and cracked pepper.  Our veteran tasting panel unanimously agreed that this wine drinks well beyond it’s modest price. Don’t wait too long to secure yours.
 
MAURITSON
2016 ZINFANDEL
DRY CREEK VALLEY
Retails at:  $39.00/btl
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl

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Winery Notes: “Perfumed aromas of black boysenberry cobbler with graham cracker crust waft from the glass. Hints of anise, fresh fig, and earthiness beautifully complement the fruit profile. The entry is full but inviting, exhibiting flavors of mocha, wet gravel, and black cherry. The mouthfeel is seamless from start to finish, indicative of perfectly integrated tannin and acid. Please enjoy this wine for the next 7-10 years.”
 
Customers that enjoy Mauritson Zinfandel, may also enjoy these two terrific Zins…
2016 Gamba Family Ranches Zinfandel 2013 Valdez St Peter's Church Zinfandel
GAMBA
2016 ZINFANDEL
FAMILY RANCHES
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: Insiders Club Members Only

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Winery Notes: “... a bold, well structured wine with an aromatic nose of ripe berries, brown spice, and black licorice. The color is a beautiful and vibrant dark crimson. The wine is deftly balanced, with flavors that burst on the palate, offering well defined dark cherry, raspberry and blueberry that give way to dark chocolate, spicy pepper and a hint of nutty oak. The frame is firm yet round without harsh edges, with an appealing, weighty, yet buoyant mid palate, and a refreshing lift on the lengthy, enjoyable, toasty finish.”
VALDEZ
2013 ZINFANDEL
ST. PETER’S CHURCH
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: Insiders Club Members Only

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Tasting Notes: “This impeccably balanced zinfandel flaunts energizing flavors and aromas of ripe black cherries, concentrated pomegranate, and crushed blackberries with hints of white rose petals, cocoa powder and pipe tobacco. The perfect balance shines through with an amazing brightness that elegantly supports the richly focused flavors.  Simply stunning!”  94 Points
2014 Martinelli Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

2014 Martinelli Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUncategorizedUSA

MARTINELLI  2014 Martinelli Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

2014 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST

 
Some of the best wines have a style of their own that’s so recognizable that they literally carve out their own category, and in turn change the entire industry for the better.  Martinelli’s larger-than-life style of producing weighty, plump and full bodied wines has become a hallmark of their brand and over the years they’ve amassed a large following, along with a string of stellar reviews for them.  Their 2014 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is an absolute classic and has earned a monster 95 Point score from Wine Enthusiast.  At under $40, the level of quality/value is made abundantly clear the moment this wine splashes into your glass, as the bouquet grabs you and doesn’t let go.  By the time it’s hits your palate, you’ll wish you had ordered more…
 
Composed of fruit from Blue Slide Ridge, Three Sister’s and a touch of Bondi Ranch, their 2014 Sonoma Coast bottling embodies Martinelli’s signature style, which has made them one of the Russian River Valley’s most beloved producers.  With the help of consulting winemaker Erin Green, whom worked alongside Helen Turley in the early ’90’s on some of her projects, the winery has remained a paragon of the Russian River Valley.  If you love BIG, rich, California Pinot Noirs, you’ll want to secure a case of this one, yesterday.
 
MARTINELLI
2014 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
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From Wine Enthusiast: “This wine is memorable and impressive-a ripe exploration of earthy goodness that’s rich and velvety smooth. Spicy red fruit seduces amidst a well-developed core of complex orange peel and cardamom highlights, the oak well-integrated and supportive.” 95 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Martinelli’s Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two outstanding Pinots…
2016 Laird Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir 2016 Martinelli Bella Vigna Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
LAIRD
2016 PINOT NOIR
GHOST RANCH
 
Your Price: $42.99/btl

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I love it when a wine has flavors are so deep and penetrating, that it might be described as chilling, spine-tingling and scary good.  All three of these descriptors came time mind when I tasted Laird’s 2016 Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir. Made in a deep, velvety style that I love, Laird’s 2016  Ghost Ranch is haunted by spine-tingling allure, laced with shades of wild blueberries, black cherries, vanilla and spices.  If you like your Pinot Noirs a little fuller bodied, deep, and rich, I strongly recommend a case of this limited release.
MARTINELLI
2016 PINOT NOIR
BELLA VIGNA
 
Your Price: $45/btl

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The 2016 combines fruit from several of the winery’s top sites including Bondi, Lolita and Zio Tony Ranches, with the largest share being from Bondi.  They produce single vineyard Pinots  from each of these incredible vineyards which sell for around $70/btl.  At $45 the Bella Vigna offers a stunning value..  The level of quality/value is made abundantly clear the moment this wine splashes into your glass as the bouquet grabs ahold of you and doesn’t let go.

2016 Gamba Family Ranches Zinfandel

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUncategorizedUSAZinfandel

GAMBA

2016 ZINFANDEL
FAMILY RANCHES

 
Throughout my career I’ve offered some truly memorable wines that have developed amazing followings, but only a handful have inspired the kind of love affair that Gamba has.  After Robert Parker’s latest visit to the winery, he alerted readers, “… Gamba’s name is going to have to be included with some of the stars of Sonoma, such as Hartford Court, Carlisle, Bedrock and even the superstar Turley over in Napa.” Absolutely bursting at the seams with magnificent levels of jammy black raspberries and briary red fruits, Gus Gamba’s new 2016 Family Ranches could be the poster child for Gus Gamba’s Zinfandel.  They’re always charming and hedonistic, with stunning opulence and full of extracted detail.  At this price, their 2016 Family Ranches should not be missed.
 
Designed from a unique correlation of estate and neighboring vineyards, as well as merging young and old vines, the Family Ranches bottling creates a lush, fruit-forward Zin that’s laced with compelling depth and precision.  Many of my Zin loving clients have proclaimed that Gamba Zin is The BEST wine in the world, and if you love elaborately flavored, delicious Zinfandel decadence, you’ll want to grab a case of Gamba’s Family Ranches while you still can.
 
GAMBA
2016 ZINFANDEL
FAMILY RANCHES
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
 
Winery Notes: “The 2016 Family Ranches Zinfandel is a bold, well structured wine with an aromatic nose of ripe berries, brown spice, and black licorice. The color is a beautiful and vibrant dark crimson. The wine is deftly balanced, with flavors that burst on the palate, offering well defined dark cherry, raspberry and blueberry that give way to dark chocolate, spicy pepper and a hint of nutty oak. The frame is firm yet round without harsh edges, with an appealing, weighty, yet buoyant mid palate, and a refreshing lift on the lengthy, enjoyable, toasty finish.”
 
Customers that enjoy Gamba’s Family Ranches Zinfandel, may also enjoy these two terrific Zins…
2016 Gamba Starr Road Ranch Zinfandel
 2013 Valdez St Peter's Church Alexander Valley Zinfandel
GAMBA
2016 ZINFANDEL
STARR ROAD RANCH
Retails at:  $52.00/btl
 

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Winery Notes: “... offers hints of dried raspberry, blueberry compote, herbs, and candied plum on the nose. Dark and alluring in color, and the palate is bold yet well-integrated, with a velvety texture and weighty, yet graceful structure. Fully ripe, this Zin showcases knockout layers of mouth filling blackberry cobbler, herb and leather on the palate. This sumptuous wine embraces concentration and velvety richness. Robust, it finishes dusted in allspice, and cinnamon toast.”
VALDEZ
2013 ZINFANDEL
ST. PETER’S CHURCH
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 

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Tasting Notes: “This impeccably balanced zinfandel flaunts energizing flavors and aromas of ripe black cherries, concentrated pomegranate, and crushed blackberries with hints of white rose petals, cocoa powder and pipe tobacco. The perfect balance shines through with an amazing brightness that elegantly supports the richly focused flavors.  Simply stunning!”
94 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier